Close two border points in the north, Jarinje and Brnjak

All this to counter the arrest of former Serbian police officer Dejan Pantic, who was arrested in Jarinje. He is suspected of participating in the attack on police and CEC officials a few days ago.

Kosovo police have confirmed that the two border points leading to Serbia are closed. Jarinje and Brnjak.

Initially, police announced only the closure of the border point in Jarinje, and after the barricade was established in other parts of the north, the one in Brnjak was closed.

The “Blocking of roads has occurred mainly on several roads, including the national route of Leposavici, Zvecan and Zubin Potok municipalities, violating and unable to free movement of citizens and goods. As a precautionary security measure, while roads are blocked towards the Jarinje Border Point, Kosovo Police have closed the same provisionally for circulation, so citizens can use other border crossings for circulation”, the Kosovo Police Community says.

When a few hours have passed since the barricades were placed, Serbs are continuing to stay in the streets.

Free Europe reports that KFOR helicopters from air are moving to monitor the situation. According to them, the number of Serbs standing near the barricades has been significantly reduced compared to the main part of the day.

Kosovo police on the other hand have called on citizens to remain calm.

“As every time the Kosovo Police invite citizens not to fall prey to possible calls or provocations from persons or criminal groups, but to co-operate with the Kosovo Police, which will continue to commit to offering security to all citizens without any differences, bringing the justice organs of the suspected persons, as well as maintaining the constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo<1>, the Kosovo Police Community notes.

On the other hand, in pictures that Serbian media had published, there were also masked persons in Zvecan. The road has been blocked by escaves, and in some areas the ambulances of northern medical centers have been seen.

Why were the roads blocked?
Serbs began blocking roads following former Serbian police officer Dejan Pantic's arrest. He was arrested by Kosovo Police at the Jarinje border checkpoint. The same suspect allegedly attacked the CEC police and officials days ago.

“as a result of intensive investigations and police commitments, today at Jarinje Border Point the alleged D.P. (M/S/K), a former member of the KP, has been detained on suspicion of involvement in terrorist criminal acts and an attack against constitutional order. The alleged person has been involved in organising attacks on KKZ offices and attacks on CEC officials and Kosovo Police”, the Kosovo Police report said.

On the other hand, Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said this former police officer is suspected of participating in the conduct of terrorist works.

Kosovo's “Police today have detained at the Jarinje Border Point the former police official, former MUP member who was formerly integrated into the Kosovo Police, Dejan Pantic. The detainee according to evidence by the Kosovo Police has organised the terrorist attack on the KKZ's offices in the country's north by what cases were attacked by CEC officials and police officials. Pantic is accused of committing terrorist acts and assaulting constitutional order”, Minister Svechla wrote.

“extremist groups aimed at preventing the establishment of justice are organised in several roadblocks and the establishment of barricades in Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. I invite all citizens to maintain calm and in particular our citizens of Serbian ethnicity not to become part of the organisation of criminal groups in the north. Nothing can stop the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo from offering security to citizens indiscriminately and for bringing all offenders to justice”, it has written.

Following the arrest, Serbia's so-called Kosovo office director, Petar Petkovovic, has also talked to EU emissary for dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.

Up to these tensions has come during the meeting that President Osmani was developing with political parties. It was decided that the initial elections for 18 December in the north will be postponed for 23 April. That is precisely to avoid tensions.